Volume LXX No. 1 0045-5121

January, February, March, April – 2022

Note from the Editor….

The Newsletter “Canadian Leathercraft” is your source of information about CSCL and its members. Also check out the CSCL website at www.canadianleathercraft.org and CSCL’s Facebook page. I am always looking for articles for the Newsletter, do you have a project that you have done that you think everyone would be interested in seeing, we are looking for articles?

Highlights from the Past Executive Council Meetings….

The Executive have been Zoom meeting each month. We have been working on preparations for the upcoming Zoom Annual Meeting on May 14^th. The Executive debated about having an in person Annual but with the uncertainty of Covid we decided it would be safer to wait another year before taking that step.

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday Morning, May 14^th.

Next year we will be looking for some new volunteers to fill some of the Executive positions so if you are interested in being on the Executive let us know.

CSCL Membership

Have you paid your membership? It’s a new Membership Year (April 1 to March 31).

• If you are joining trough a branch pay your CSCL membership to the Branch Treasurer along with your branch membership fee.
• if you are joining as a Member-at-Large or Sustaining Member send your membership payment to the CSCL Treasurer: Della Chynoweth, 3350 Monck Road, Norland, Ontario K0M 2L0 or you can e-transfer to [email protected]. Please be sure to include your contact information.

CSCL Larmour Lending Library

The CSCL lending Library of Books and Patterns can be referenced on our web site www.canadianleathercraft.org. Head to Gallery and click on CSCL Library of Books and Patterns. Under the Patter option there is 80 pages of patterns that may give you ideas of things to make. Under the Book section there is 13 pages of titles of Books and DVD’s about Leather crafting, design and colour. Remember these patterns and books are there for you to borrow from the library. Select item(s) you would like to borrow and send your list to Paul Kitchener at [email protected].

Branch Presidents will assist in pickup and delivery of the orders from branch members.

Members-at-large may order directly from Paul and arrange shipping or printing options, fees may apply.

Memberships are due by March 31^st

72nd Annual Meeting The Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft May 14th, 2022

CSCL Virtual Leatherwork Annual Competition 2022

Cash Prizes and Awards

For Best in Show ($50) Best Moulding, Best Tooling or Colouring (Robert Muma Award $50), Best Hard Sculpture ($20), Woodstock Heritage ($50). Best Novice, Student, General Member, Fellow Awards and other Categories as deemed necessary.

Criteria for the Virtual Leatherwork Entries

Entries close April 30 at midnight.

Entries are free.

Open to all members in good standing.

Maximum of articles/item per Member is 5

Minimum of 4 photos per item.

Photos must show all sides/angles

Photos must be in focus

300Kb Minimum size Explanation/Description of each piece less than 50 words would be appreciated.

Especially if difficult and hidden aspects can’t be shown.

Send your entries to this Address: [email protected]

The Annual will be a Zoom Meeting on May 14^th from 10 am to Noon. The Zoom sign in will be emailed to everyone during the week before the meeting.

Here is a pattern that can be used to make a dolls leather costume

to use up your scraps of leather

Taken from it’s a gift! 50 complete patterns for you to make.

Throwing the Stitch

Throwing the Stitch is a Harness Stitching technique using a thread with needles at each end to close a seam. The holes for the needles are made with an awl or can be made with a Stitch Chisel. The awl strike cuts a slit in the leather. The slit is angled and stretched into a diamond shape, this provides the maximum amount of the leather between the stitches and allows the needles to pass with less effort. See Al Stohlman The Art of Hand Stitching Leather for a good explanation and learning guide on all types of stitching. Valerie Michael The Leatherworking Handbook has some great info for a more classic/refined style.

The standard stitch will make a dogleg on the front (awl hand side) as the stitches are pulled in to the corners of the awl strike. The stitch on the back side will be quite straight. Throwing the stitch will make the thread dogleg on the back and take a little bit of dogleg away from the front.

This is done by placing the back side thread on the over the needle prior to pulling the stitches up tight, by crossing the thread over each other it adjusts the thread position in the awl strike. This slightly locks the threads as they cross over inside the leather giving a very secure stitch. Try it and see the difference, it makes the back look more like the front. With lots of practice your awl strikes will be very regular and the back can look as good as the front. See photo These examples are struck with same awls and stitched with the same thread.

Lauch Harrison FCSCL

Illustration 2: Stitched 7 per inch Top Line Thrown Bottom Line Regular

Illustration 1: Seven per inch Top Line Regular Bottom Line Thrown

Hints and Tips from Hammerlauch

Thread Tips

Larger thread less dogleg – Smaller thread more dogleg (has to do with filling the awl strike hole)

Larger thread more fill – makes each stitch appear longer

Larger thread, Hard twisted thread, Natural Fiber thread, well waxed thread and Core Bonded thread are more “plump”

Awl Strike Tips

Larger awl strike – shorter stitch appearance, thread pulls down into the ends of the cuts

Larger awl strike – less “plump” the stitch

Larger awl strike more dogleg – thread pulls down into the ends of the cut

smaller awl strike longer stitch appearance – more leather between the cuts

smaller awl strike less dogleg – ends of the cuts are closer to the mid line

smaller awl strike more “plump” the stitch

Technique Tips

Thrown stitch less dogleg on the front

Thrown stitch more dogleg on back

Pricking iron used with small awl will show dogleg more than pricking wheel with the same awl

Pricking Chisel – only thread size and Throwing can change the look of the stitch – try different threads then choose the best look

Pricking Chisel will give the Most regular stitch front and back

Pricking Iron will give the most regular stitch when using an awl

Stitch channel on the back will give very regular appearance

Stitches per Inch Tips

For Linen Thread Size

Thread size when paired with correct size awls gives best appearance for thrown or regular stitches

Thicker Leather and Depth from the Edge will prompt use of the thicker/heavier threads

5 Stitches per inch – 7 cord/18 or larger if you have it

6 Stitches per inch – 6 cord/18 or 5 cord/18

7 Stitches per inch – 5 cord/18 or 4 cord/18

8 Stitches per inch – 4 cord/18 or 3 cord/18

9 Stitches per inch – 3 cord/18 or 4 cord/20

10 Stitches per inch – 3 cord/20 or 3 cord/25 or 3 cord/30

11 Stitches per inch – 3 cord/25 or 3 cord/30

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